Get Thee To The Great Estate

The Great Estate is Cornwall’s newest festival and one of the events I’m most excited about this summer. Each day I see another awesome Cornish business popping up on Facebook or Twitter to say they’ll be there and since I don’t want to be square, I’m going to be there with bells on too. I mean where else can I get a tattoo and sip gin, while listening to sea shanties in the sunshine? Here’s what to expect…

A Knockout Cornish Location

The festival will take place in the beautiful and extensive grounds of Scorrier House, near Redruth. Surrounded by 450 acres and rooted in Cornish history, Scorrier House was built in 1780 by mining tycoon John Williams and provides the perfect location for this soon-to-be-legendary summer party.

Funky Headliners

This year’s headline acts include English rock heroes Echo and the Bunnymen; YouTube cover star and Cornish gal Daisy Clark (you’ve seen this right?); DJ Craig Charles’ Funk and Soul Show; The Showhawk Duo and Electric Swing Circus (who seem to like hanging out down here – they’re were at the Wateringhole in Perranporth recently and will be back for the Rock Oyster Fest).

Sword-Swallowing, Burlesque & Cabaret

As well as loads of great comedy acts, you can expect glitz, glamour and risqué happenings at Madame Wong’s House of Wrong. From dazzling cabaret and flamboyant burlesque, to fire dancing and sword swallowing, a weird and wonderful blend of live performances adds a unique and slightly bonkers element to The Great Estate.

Fashion & Vintage Stalls

From Truro’s Little Boutique to Dick Pearce’s Bellyboards – there’ll be lots of reasons to pull out your purse at The Great Estate. Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair is a particular highlight. The largest vintage fair of its kind, Judy’s has been providing vintage fans with beautiful (but sensibly priced) clothing homeware and accessories since 2005. The fair regularly pops up in 30 different cities and has been hailed in the national press as a ‘shopping phenomenon’.

Dancing In The Trees

Fancy bopping to your own beat, under the trees? Course you do! For partygoers looking to control their own music mix, a winding pathway will lead revelers to a secret forest glade, where the Woodland Silent Disco can be found hidden amongst the trees. Playing until the wee hours, DJ’s will battle it out spinning the best in pop, rock and club classics.

A Pop-Up Spa (for when it all gets too much)

Where you’ll find me when I’m not in the Secret Gin Garden! Flowering urns and blossoming borders line the entrance to The Great Estate’s onsite wellness area, The Sanctuary. Treat yourself to head-to-toe pampering, with treatments at the on-site spa, unwind in Kernow Springs’ wood-fired hot tubs or just keel over and enjoy a relaxing massage. Guided meditation, yoga, reiki and sound bath healing will also be on offer to help you find your zen.

Not much to add here except, yes – if you’d like to float up above the festival in a tethered air balloon that is not too much to ask and will give you a unique view of all the fun below.

Plus, you can cycle there!

Festival-goers can cycle to and from the festival via the Mineral Tramways Coast-to-Coast Trail. Starting from Portreath, Bissoe or Devoran, cyclists can meander along the old horse-drawn tramroads to the gates of Scorrier House.